., "I will buy at least one single-family home, duplex, triplex, or fourplex before the end of 2019") and then do it.

The internet makes the world very small.As far as buying out of state, one challenge I did not see any other replies mention is your occupancy. 

All the more reason to know exactly what everyone's obligations are.If/when one of your tenants leaves (hopefully not before 2028!)

But of the options you note, the only one that really makes sense to me is the CoC option. 

So take it all with a grain of salt.But the point is, there is no rule that says I have to have my primary somewhere, and that I have to worry about being "priced out" - (a) who cares, if you have successful incestments elsewhere, its all ego that cares about renting vs buying in my hometown; and(b) My buddy, if he wanted to, could sell one of his apt buildings in Chicago and buy whatever he wants over here- but he still doesn't.

If your cleaner doesn't offer this service, find one who does.

You may not care, but I want to be clear that she is the one in the wrong, not you.

While I know that return goals are different for each investor and their specific goals, it seems that a bad or low-performing deal for one person might be what another investor is looking for. 

I took out the existing planter boxes and made new ones, changing the layout, and poured some new gravel to make the walkway more weed resistant and add drainage.  

One never knows whether an area will gentrify but chatter on the street is money is flowing in the South Shore.